U.S. patent application number 10/665625 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-24 for method and system for automated postage correction of residual mail.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pitney Bowes Incorporated. Invention is credited to Hasbani, Jacques E., Horree, Richard, Kummer, Robert H. JR..
Application Number | 20050065896 10/665625 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34194765 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050065896 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kummer, Robert H. JR. ; et
al. |
March 24, 2005 |
Method and system for automated postage correction of residual
mail
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for
processing residual mail to automatically correct the postage
therefor. A first class of service that was used to originally
process the residual mail and a second class of service to which a
postage value originally applied to the residual mail is to be
corrected are received. A postage correction table is then
generated from a first rate table corresponding to the first class
of service and a second rate table corresponding to the second
class of service. A postage correction amount for each piece of
residual mail is determined based upon the postage correction
table. The postage correction table may include a plurality of
weight breaks and a plurality of corresponding postage correction
rates and/or dimension based charges, and the postage correction
amount may be based on a measured weight and/or dimension of each
pieces of residual mail.
Inventors: |
Kummer, Robert H. JR.;
(Southbury, CT) ; Hasbani, Jacques E.; (Easton,
CT) ; Horree, Richard; (Brookfield, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Intellectual Property and Technology Law Dept.
35 Waterview Drive
P.O. Box 3000
Shelton
CT
06484
US
|
Assignee: |
Pitney Bowes Incorporated
Stamford
CT
|
Family ID: |
34194765 |
Appl. No.: |
10/665625 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/401 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B 17/00362 20130101;
G07B 2017/00701 20130101; G07B 2017/0037 20130101; G07B 2017/00685
20130101; G07B 2017/00338 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/401 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60; G06F
017/00 |
Claims
1. A method of processing one or more pieces of residual mail,
comprising: accessing a first rate table corresponding to a first
class of service used to originally process said one or more pieces
of residual mail; accessing a second rate table corresponding to a
second class of service to which a postage value originally applied
to each of said one or more pieces of residual mail is to be
corrected; generating a postage correction table from said first
rate table and said second rate table; determining a postage
correction amount for each of said one or more pieces of residual
mail based on said postage correction table; and applying said
determined postage correction amount to each of said one or more
pieces of residual mail.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a
weight of each of said one or more pieces of residual mail, wherein
said postage correction amount is based on said weight of each of
said one or more pieces of residual mail.
3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising determining
one or more dimensions of each of said one or more pieces of
residual mail, wherein said postage correction amount is further
based on said one or more dimensions of each of said one or more
pieces of residual mail.
4. A method according to claim 2, said postage correction table
comprising a plurality of weight breaks and a plurality of
corresponding postage correction rates.
5. A method according to claim 4, said generating step further
comprising calculating, for each of said weight breaks, a
difference between a first corresponding rate from said second rate
table and a second corresponding rate from said first rate table,
said difference being said postage correction rate for said weight
break.
6. A method according to claim 3, said postage correction table
comprising a plurality of weight breaks and plurality of
corresponding postage correction rates and dimension based
charges.
7. A method according to claim 6, said generating step further
comprising calculating, for each of said weight breaks, a first
difference between a first corresponding rate from said second rate
table and a second corresponding rate from said first rate table
and a second difference between a first corresponding dimension
based charge from said second rate table and a second corresponding
dimension based charge from said first rate table, said first
difference being said postage correction rate for said weight break
and said second difference being said dimension based charge for
said weight break.
8. A method according to claim 5, said calculating step for each of
said weight breaks further comprising setting said postage
correction rate equal to zero if said difference is negative.
9. A method according to claim 7, said calculating step for each of
said weight breaks further comprising setting said postage
correction rate equal to zero if said first difference is negative
and setting said dimension based charge equal to zero if said
second difference is negative.
10. A mail processing system, comprising: a metering/printing
module for applying postage values to one or more pieces of mail; a
central processing unit controlling operation of said
metering/printing module; and a memory storing information
including software executable by said central processing unit, said
software including instructions for: accessing a first rate table
corresponding to a first class of service used to originally
process one or more pieces of residual mail; accessing a second
rate table corresponding to a second class of service to which a
postage value originally applied to each of said one or more pieces
of residual mail is to be corrected; generating a postage
correction table from said first rate table and said second rate
table; determining a postage correction amount for each of said one
or more pieces of residual mail based on said postage correction
table; and causing said metering/printing module to apply said
determined postage correction amount to one of each of said one or
more pieces of residual mail or a tape to be applied to said one or
more pieces of residual mail.
11. A mail processing system according to claim 10, further
comprising a weighing module for weighing one or more mail pieces,
said weighing module being controlled by said central processing
unit, said software further including instructions for determining
a weight for said one or more pieces of residual mail using said
weighing module, wherein said postage correction amount is based on
said weight of each of said one or more pieces of residual
mail.
12. A mail processing system according to claim 11, said postage
correction table comprising a plurality of weight breaks and a
plurality of corresponding postage correction rates.
13. A mail processing system according to claim 12, said generating
instructions further comprising instructions for calculating, for
each of said weight breaks, a difference between a first
corresponding rate from said second rate table and a second
corresponding rate from said first rate table, said difference
being said postage correction rate for said weight break.
14. A mail processing system according to claim 11, further
comprising a dimensioning module for determining one or more
dimensions of a mail piece, said dimensioning module being
controlled by said central processing unit, said software further
including instructions for determining one or more dimensions for
said one or more pieces of residual mail using said dimensioning
module, wherein said postage correction amount is further based on
said one or more dimensions of each of said one or more pieces of
residual mail.
15. A mail processing system according to claim 14, said
dimensioning module comprising an array of sensors.
16. A mail processing system according to claim 15, said sensors
being optical sensors.
17. A mail processing system according to claim 14, said postage
correction table comprising a plurality of weight breaks and
plurality of corresponding postage correction rates and dimension
based charges.
18. A mail processing system according to claim 17, said generating
instructions further comprising instructions for calculating, for
each of said weight breaks, a first difference between a first
corresponding rate from said second rate table and a second
corresponding rate from said first rate table and a second
difference between a first corresponding dimension based charge
from said second rate table and a second corresponding dimension
based charge from said first rate table, said first difference
being said postage correction rate for said weight break and said
second difference being said dimension based charge for said weight
break.
19. A mail processing system according to claim 13, said
calculating step for each of said weight breaks further comprising
setting said postage correction rate equal to zero if said
difference is negative.
20. A mail processing system according to claim 18, said
calculating step for each of said weight breaks further comprising
setting said postage correction rate equal to zero if said first
difference is negative and setting said dimension based charge
equal to zero if said second difference is negative.
21. A method according to claim 1, wherein accessing a first rate
table further comprises: receiving a first class of service used to
originally process said one or more pieces of residual mail; and
accessing a first rate table corresponding to the received first
class of service.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein accessing a second rate
table further comprises: receiving a second class of service to
which a postage value originally applied to each of said one or
more pieces of residual mail is to be corrected; and accessing a
second rate table corresponding to the received second class of
service.
23. A mail processing system according to claim 10, wherein said
first rate table and said second rate table are stored in said
memory.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention disclosed herein relates generally to mailing
processing systems, and more particularly to a system and method
for automatically correcting postage for residual mail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Mail processing systems, such as, for example, a mailing
machine, often include different modules that automate the
processes of producing mail pieces. The typical mailing machine
includes a variety of different modules or sub-systems, each of
which performs a different task on the mail piece. The mail piece
is conveyed downstream utilizing a transport mechanism, such as
rollers or a belt, to each of the modules. Such modules could
include, for example, a singulating module for separating a stack
of mail pieces such that the mail pieces are conveyed one at a time
along the transport path, a stripping/moistening module for
stripping open the flap of an envelope, and wetting and sealing the
glued flap of an envelope, a weighing module for weighing the mail
piece, and a metering/printing module, for storing postage and
applying evidence of postage to the mail piece. The mailing machine
is controlled by a central processing unit that executes software
that is stored in memory provided in the mailing machine. The exact
configuration of the mailing machine is, of course, particular to
the needs of the user.
[0003] Postal authorities publish postage rate schedules based on a
variety of parameters, such as the weight and/or dimensions of the
mail piece, the origin and/or destination of the mail piece and the
class of mail being used. A mailing machine as described above
typically stores a series of tables corresponding to the published
rate schedules. In operation, a user weighs a mail piece and
selects a class of service for the mail piece and then feeds the
mail piece through the mailing machine. The mailing machine
determines the proper postage for the mail piece based on the
stored tables and the measured weight and chosen class of service
and prints the proper postage either directly on the mail piece or
on a tape to be applied to the mail piece.
[0004] Certain mail processing systems include technology that
allows continuous processing of mixed mail, meaning mail pieces
having different weights and dimensions, including length, width
and thickness, without the need to manually sort the mail based on
weight and/or dimension. In such systems, as the mail pieces are
conveyed through the system, they are automatically weighed and
measured and a postage rate is determined from one or more stored
rate tables based on the measured weight and dimensions and a class
of service entered by the user. The mail processing system then
applies the determined postage to each mail piece, either by
printing a postage indicia directly on the mail piece or on a tape
to be adhered to the mail piece. Examples of such a mail processing
system are the DM Series.TM. mailing systems sold by the assignee
of the present application.
[0005] Postal authorities such as the U.S. Postal Service provide
postage discounts for mail that is presorted based on delivery
destination. In the United States, the discounts increase with the
granularity to which the mail is sorted along delivery routes. A
first level discount is provided if mail is presorted to the first
three digits of the destination zip code, a second level discount,
greater than the first, is provided if mail is presorted to the
first five digits of the destination zip code, and a third level
discount, greater than the first two levels, is provided if mail is
presorted to a particular mail carrier's delivery route. In
addition, to be eligible for the appropriate discounts, the mail
must not only be presorted correctly based on particular delivery
destination parameters, but the mail pieces must also fall within
certain weight limits and must be of at least a minimum number.
[0006] Mailers that wish to take advantage of the available presort
discounts must first sort the mail according to one of the presort
categories described above. The mail may be sorted manually or
through some automatic process, such as through the use of a
scanner that reads address information and sorts the mail
accordingly. Alternatively, mail may be sorted when each mail piece
is generated as in the case of a high volume biller that will
generate and group all mail pieces according to particular presort
discount categories (e.g., five digit zip code levels) at the same
time. Once the mail pieces are presorted to a particular
granularity, each presort batch is then processed through a mail
processing system such as is described herein. In particular, for
each presort batch the applicable class of service, which is based
on the presort granularity chosen by the user, is entered into the
mail processing system and each mail piece in the presort batch is
conveyed through the system where it is weighed and measured and,
based on the determined weight and dimensions and using a stored
rate table, each mail piece is rated, i.e., a postage amount for
each mail piece is determined. The determined postage amount is
then applied to each mail piece.
[0007] Next, each mail piece that has been so processed must be
validated, meaning that each mail piece is checked to determine
that it satisfies all of the criteria required for the presort
class that was chosen. If a mail piece does not satisfy all of the
required criteria, such as not falling within the specified
delivery route parameters (e.g., zip code range) or the specified
weight or size range, it is rejected. The validation may be done
manually or through some automatic process that uses, for example,
a scanner to read address information, a scale to weigh the mail
piece or a sensor or array of sensors, such as optical sensors, to
measure various dimensions of the mail piece. Any mail piece that
is not validated, i.e., that is rejected, is referred to as
residual mail.
[0008] Residual mail is not eligible to receive the postage
discount for which it was originally rated. Thus, all residual mail
must have its postage corrected. Currently, under U.S. Postal
Service regulations, all residual mail must be sent first class as
a single piece. Thus, all residual mail must have its postage
corrected to first class by having an additional postage amount
applied to it that is equal to the difference between the first
class postage for the mail piece and the postage that was actually
applied to the mail piece when it was originally processed as part
of a presorted batch of mail. Under the applicable regulations, the
postage correction amount is printed in an indicia that is applied
to the backside of the mail piece.
[0009] The current method of postage correction involves first
sorting the residual mail pieces by weight and size. Then, for each
batch of residual mail that has been sorted in this manner, the
proper postage correction amount is determined, which is equal to
the difference between the first class postage that would be
required for a mail piece of the particular weight and size in
question and the postage amount that was actually applied to the
mail pieces. A mail processing system is then set to apply the
determined postage correction amount in a manual postage setting
mode that is exclusive of class of service and each of the residual
mail pieces in the group are conveyed through the mail processing
system, wherein the postage correction amount is applied to each
residual mail piece. This process is repeated for each sorted group
of residual mail.
[0010] Under this current method of postage correction, there is no
correction of transaction accounting information that in effect
moves each piece of residual mail from the presort category in
which it was originally processed and accounts for it in a new
category based on the postage corrections process. Thus, the data
capture information for the presorted mail that has been processed
will be inaccurate to the extent of any residual mail that has been
corrected. Also, there is no separate accounting for the residual
mail that has been corrected to another class such as first class.
Instead, the postage correction amounts are merely attributed to a
total postage correction amount category. Thus, there is a need for
a system and method that automatically corrects the postage for
residual mail and accounts for transaction information for
presorted and residual mail accurately.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to a method for processing one
or more pieces of residual mail to automatically correct the
postage for the residual mail and to a system which implements the
method. The method includes receiving a first class of service that
was used to originally process the residual mail and receiving a
second class of service to which a postage value originally applied
to each of the pieces of residual mail is to be corrected. Next, a
postage correction table is generated from a first rate table
corresponding to the first class of service and a second rate table
corresponding to the second class of service. A postage correction
amount for each of the pieces of residual mail is determined based
upon the postage correction table, and the determined postage
correction amount is applied to each of the pieces of residual
mail.
[0012] The postage correction table may, in a particular
embodiment, include a plurality of weight breaks and a plurality of
corresponding postage correction rates. The postage correction
amount in this embodiment is based on the weight of each of the
pieces of residual mail. Such a postage correction table may be
generated by calculating, for each of the weight breaks to be
included therein, a difference between two corresponding rates from
the first and second rate tables received from a user. The
difference that is calculated for each weight break is the postage
correction rate in the postage correction table.
[0013] The method of the present invention may also include
determining one or more dimensions of each of the pieces of
residual mail, wherein the postage correction amount is further
based on the measured dimensions. In this embodiment, the postage
correction table may include a plurality of weight breaks and a
plurality of corresponding postage correction rates and dimension
based charges. In this embodiment, the generation of the postage
correction table may further include calculating, for each weight
break in the postage correction table, a second difference between
two corresponding dimension based charges from the first and second
rate tables. This second difference is, for each weight break in
the postage correction table, the dimension based charge.
[0014] In one embodiment, a mail processing system according to the
present invention includes a postage meter for applying postage
values to one or more pieces of mail, a central processing unit
controlling operation of the postage meter, and a memory storing
information including a plurality of rate tables and software
executable by the central processing unit. In this embodiment, the
software includes instructions for executing the method of
automatically correcting postage for one or more pieces of residual
mail according to the present invention. The mail processing system
may further include a scale for weighing each of the pieces of
residual mail and a dimensioning module for measuring one or more
dimensions of each of the pieces of residual mail.
[0015] Therefore, it should now be apparent that the invention
substantially achieves all the above aspects and advantages.
Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set
forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. Moreover, the aspects and advantages of the invention
may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, and together with the general
description given above and the detailed description given below,
serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown
throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or
corresponding parts.
[0017] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a mail processing system
according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the mail processing system of
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a methodology for
processing presorted mail that utilizes a system and method for
automatic postage correction for residual mail according to the
present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the
mail processing system according to the present invention that
automatically corrects postage for residual mail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an isometric view of a mail processing
system 10, such as a mailing machine, according to the present
invention is shown. Mailing processing system 10 comprises a base
unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 12, the base
unit 12 having a mail piece input end, designated generally by the
reference numeral 14 and a mail piece output end, designated
generally by the reference numeral 16. A UIC 18 is mounted on the
base unit 12, and includes one or more input/output devices, such
as, for example, a keyboard 20 and a display device 22. One or more
cover members 24 are pivotally mounted on the base 12 so as to move
from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to an open position (not
shown) so as to expose various operating components and parts for
service and/or repair as needed.
[0022] The base unit 12 further includes a horizontal feed deck 30
that extends substantially from the input end 14 to the output end
16. A plurality of nudger rollers 32 are suitably mounted under the
feed deck 30 and project upwardly through openings in the feed deck
so that the periphery of the rollers 32 is slightly above the upper
surface of the feed deck 30 and can exert a forward feeding force
on a succession of mail pieces placed in the input end 14. A
vertical wall 34 defines a mail piece stacking location from which
the mail pieces are fed by the nudger rollers 32 along the feed
deck 30 and into a transport system (not shown) that transports the
mail pieces in a downstream path of travel, as indicated by arrow
A, through one or more modules, such as, for example, a separator
module and moistening/sealing module. Each of these modules is
located generally in the area indicated by reference numeral 36.
The mail pieces are then passed to a weighing module 42 (shown in
FIG. 2) and a metering/printing module 44 (shown in FIG. 2) located
generally in the area indicated by reference numeral 38, and exit
the mailing processing system 10 at the output end 16.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of mail processing
system 10 is shown. Mail processing system 10 includes central
processing unit (CPU) 40. Display device 22 and keyboard 20 provide
a user interface to CPU 40. Weighing module 42, such as a scale,
weighs mail pieces and metering/printing module 44, such as a
postage meter, applies postage to the mail pieces and manages
postage amounts stored therein. Mail processing system 10 also
includes dimensioning module 48 for measuring one or more
dimensions of a mail piece such as thickness, width and length.
Dimensioning module 48 may take any one of many forms known in the
art, and may comprise, for example, an array of sensors, such as
optical sensors. Mail processing system 10 is of the type that is
able to process mixed mail without the need to manually sort the
mail based on weight or dimensions. CPU 40 controls all operations
of mail processing system 10 as described herein by executing
software stored in memory 46, such as a non-volatile memory
module.
[0024] Stored within memory 46 is a database of information that
includes the standard rate tables published by the relevant postal
authorities that specify the postage rates for all classes of mail.
Within each class of mail, the rate tables specify a particular
postage amount that applies to all mail pieces falling within a
particular weight range. Specifically, for each class of mail, the
tables will specify a maximum weight, known as a weight break, for
each level of postage. The weight breaks may vary for different
classes of mail. The rate tables may also specify an additional
charge for each weight range that applies if a mail piece meets or
exceeds certain dimension parameters. Also stored within memory 46
is a processing engine that provides appropriate access to the data
provided in the tables.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps for
presorting and processing mail to take advantage of postage
discounts that utilizes a system and method for automatically
correcting postage on residual mail according to the present
invention. At step S1, a user presorts a large batch of mail into
smaller batches of mail according to particular granularities of
delivery route, e.g., three digit zip code, five digit zip code or
zip plus four. At step S2, the user takes one of the presorted
batches and processes it through mail processing system 10.
Specifically, the user enters the appropriate presort class into
mail processing system 10 using keyboard 20 and each mail piece in
the batch is weighed using weighing module 42, measured using
dimensioning module 48, and rated using the appropriate rate table
stored in memory 46 based on the measured weight and dimensions.
The appropriate postage is then applied to each mail piece, either
directly or to a tape, by metering/printing module 44. During step
S2, transaction information for each mail piece, including one or
more of weight, dimensions, postage value and class of service, is
captured and stored for subsequent reporting to the postal
authority. Next, at step S3, each mail piece that has been
processed is validated, either manually or automatically, to
determine whether it meets the sorting requirements of the chosen
class. At step S4, all mail pieces that have been validated are
collected and accumulated to meet the minimum piece count required
to be eligible for the discount. All mail that is not validated in
step S4 is residual mail. At step S5, the postage for the residual
mail is corrected using the system and method of the present
invention that is described in connection with FIG. 3.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, a flow diagram is provided that
illustrates the operation of mail processing system 10 according to
the present invention in which postage for residual mail is
automatically corrected. As noted above, operation of mail
processing system 10 as described in FIG. 3 is controlled using
software that is stored in memory 46 and executed by CPU 40.
Referring to step S6, a user first places mail processing system 10
into a mode for performing automatic postage correction for
residual mail. This may be done, for example, through use of
display 22 and keyboard 20. The automatic postage correction mode
utilizes the capabilities of mail processing system 10 to process
mixed mail as described above. Next, at step S7, the user enters
the class of service that was used in originally processing the
batch of residual mail that is now having its postage corrected. At
step S8, the user enters the class of service to which the postage
for the residual mail is to be corrected. The class of service
entered in step S8 may be first class, single piece as is currently
required by U.S. Postal Service requirements, or may be some other
class of service for which the residual mail meets the
requirements. For example, the residual mail may have originally
been processed in a five digit zip code class, with the residual
mail not falling within the particular five digit class but meeting
a broader three digit zip class. In that case, the residual mail
could be corrected to the appropriate three digit zip code class.
While this type of correction is not currently permitted under U.S.
Postal Service regulations, it may be in the future. In addition,
this type of correction may be permissible under the regulations of
a country other than the United States.
[0027] Next, at step S9, mail processing system 10, and
specifically CPU 40, processes the database of information
including the rate tables stored in memory 46 to generate a new
table of weight breaks and corresponding rates for use in the
subsequent correction of the postage for the residual mail.
Specifically, to generate this rate table, mail processing system
10 first examines the rate table for the class of service entered
in step S8 (the class to which the residual mail is to be
corrected), and for each weight break provided therein it finds the
corresponding or overlapping weight break in the rate table for the
class of service entered in step S7 (the class in which the
residual mail was originally processed). Next, the difference
between the rate for the class of service entered in step S8 and
the rate for the class of service entered in step S7 is calculated
for each corresponding or overlapping weight break pair. In
addition, for each overlapping weight break pair, a second
difference is calculated between any dimension based charge
applicable to the class entered in step S8 and any dimension based
charge applicable to the class entered in step S7. The dimension
based charge may be, for example, the charge applied to a mail
piece that exceeds a specified dimension such as height, width or
thickness. The table that is generated in step S9 thus consists of
the weight breaks of the rate table for the class of service
entered in step S8 and, for each such weight break, the
corresponding difference in rates and dimension based charges that
were calculated. In the event that the subtractions described in
step S9 result in a negative number, i.e., the postage applied
originally to the residual mail piece is greater than what is
required in the new class, the postage correction amount in the new
table will be set to zero. In other words, no postage is
refunded.
[0028] To assist in understanding the present invention, the
following example is provided. Assume that the class of service
entered in step S7 is first class auto letter five digit (i.e.,
sorting to a specific five digit zip code) and the corresponding
rate table stored in memory 46 for this class is as shown in TABLE
1 below.
1 TABLE 1 Weight Break Rate Oversize Rate 1.0 ounces 0.278 0.00 2.0
ounces 0.503 0.00 3.0 ounces 0.687 0.00 3.3 ounces 0.912 0.00
[0029] Also assume that the class of service that was entered in
step S8 is first class regular mail and the corresponding rate
table stored in memory 46 for this class is as shown in TABLE 2
below.
2 TABLE 2 Weight Break Rate Oversize Rate 1.0 ounce 0.37 +0.12 2.0
ounces 0.60 0.00 3.0 ounces 0.83 0.00 4.0 ounces 1.06 0.00 5.0
ounces 1.29 0.00 6.0 ounces 1.52 0.00 7.0 ounces 1.75 0.00 8.0
ounces 1.98 0.00 9.0 ounces 2.21 0.00 10.0 ounces 2.44 0.00 11.0
ounces 2.67 0.00 12.0 ounces 2.90 0.00 13.0 ounces 3.13 0.00
[0030] The table that is generated in step S9 for use in postage
correction would be as set forth in TABLE 3 below.
3 TABLE 3 Weight Break Rate Oversize Rate 1.0 ounce 0.092 +0.12 2.0
ounces 0.097 0.00 3.0 ounces 0.143 0.00 3.3 ounces 0.148 0.00 4.0
ounces 1.06 0.00 5.0 ounces 1.29 0.00 6.0 ounces 1.52 0.00 7.0
ounces 1.75 0.00 8.0 ounces 1.98 0.00 9.0 ounces 2.21 0.00 10.0
ounces 2.44 0.00 11.0 ounces 2.67 0.00 12.0 ounces 2.90 0.00 13.0
ounces 3.13 0.00
[0031] Referring to step S10, once the table is generated in step
S9, the residual mail is loaded onto mail processing system 10 and
is sequentially fed for processing. Preferably, display 22 provides
a prompt to the user reminding the user of the required orientation
of the mail piece to ensure that a valid postage correction indicia
is applied to the mail piece in the correct place, e.g., on the
backside thereof. At step S11, the first residual mail piece is
weighed by weighing module 42 and measured by dimensioning module
48. Next, at step S12, a postage correction amount is determined
based on the measured weight and dimensions and the table generated
in step S9. In step S13, the postage correction amount that is
determined in step S12 is applied to the residual mail piece and
appropriate accounting of the transaction as described below takes
place. At step S14, steps S11, S12 and S13 are repeated for each
piece of residual mail.
[0032] As described above, under the current method of postage
correction, the captured transaction information for the presorted
mail is not accurate because transaction information for residual
mail is not removed from the presort category in which it was
originally processed and because no separate accounting is done for
the new class to which the residual mail is corrected. According to
an aspect of the present invention, these accounting and data
capture inaccuracies are compensated for. Specifically, when each
piece of residual mail has its postage corrected, its transaction
information is removed from any data capture categories in which it
was originally placed. Moreover, for each piece of residual mail
that is processed to have its postage corrected, accurate
transaction information, reflecting the proper (i.e., corrected)
class of service, weight, dimensions and/or postage value, is
captured and stored for subsequent reporting.
[0033] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these
are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as
limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not
to be considered as limited by the foregoing description but is
only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
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